By John Lindstrom
Publisher
Posted: January 12, 2017 3:34 PM

Hank Fuhs Jr. is the Michigan Republican Party secretary. He is a Republican through and through, and he is a thoroughly nice guy. He always seems to have a big goofy grin. He likes sending out emails to who knows how many people before every holiday, wishing them happiness. He’s a graduate of Ferris State University, studied at the U.S. Air Force Academy and the National War College, and is an Air Force veteran.

And this week he smacked head on into what seems to constitute civil discourse on social media. Being a Republican, one might think he was trashed by Democrats. But no, not at all, no, no, no. Nope, Mr. Fuhs was savaged by fellow Republicans on Facebook.

Why? Because in two posts, Mr. Fuhs called for respect for President Barack Obama. Both were written Tuesday evening, just before and then just after Mr. Obama’s farewell speech.

Before the speech (and this reporter takes the liberty of correcting the typos that Mr. Fuhs did apologize for), Mr. Fuhs wrote, “It’s important to listen out of respect to President Obama tonight … I salute all past and present presidents … go America.”

And then after the speech, Mr. Fuhs wrote, “President Obama just gave a great speech. Everybody heard his request … work together to keep and make America great …proud to be an American. Thanks again President Obama and VP Joe … a good man.”

That doesn’t sound too subversive. Sounds, in fact, exactly like the kind of actual civility that both politicians and Americans say they want. Sounds like the kind of civility new Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) promised the House would see in the 99th Legislature.

Tell that to a chap named Jonathan West who responded to the second post: “Are you that f---ing retarded? Obviously, yes you are. Just wow s---bird.” He extended his remarks, but you get the picture.

His was typical of the tirades launched against Mr. Fuhs. A Mike Flynn said, “Obama pos” (POS for those who do not know is not a compliment). Mary Ann Warner Landon said, “I have no idea how this Obamanite got on my friend list either…Goodbye.”

It went on and on. Both posts featured fury unbound. Karen Aninos Bidwell posted an emoticon of the emoticon vomiting, followed by her writing, “OMG tears are streaming down my face from my extreme laughter at all these great responses. 5 stars for them all.”

Mr. Fuhs actually responded to her when she also asked how he could be a Republican.

“I try to be respectful to all,” he said.

And David Walch said Mr. Fuhs sounded “like a RINO.”

No, Mr. Fuhs is not a RINO, for later he posted that all had to work together under President-elect Donald Trump. And all through the general election phase of the campaign, he frequently would post reminders to Republicans to stick with Mr. Trump, often mentioning the importance of the U.S. Supreme Court.

And Mr. Fuhs had defenders, both Democratic and Republican, who praised him for his leadership and gentleness. Those included Republican former Sen, Beverly Hammerstrom, who wrote, “You took the high road as always.”

Mr. Fuhs was off to a conference and could not reached for comment on how he viewed and reacted to the viciousness to which he was exposed.

But the comments, which anyone who follows social medial knows have become run-of-the-mill blather from all sides about all people, shows something else. Despite our professed desire for civility, for just plain manners in our political discourse, we actually enjoy being mean SOBs.

Shakespeare said something about this. What was it? Something about the fault not being in our stars but in ourselves. Perhaps Mr. Fuhs would agree with Will.